But “clever” will hardly suffice to describe La Cieca’s wily detective work in discovering that the Met will indeed complete the trio of bel canto melodramas with a production of Roberto Devereux! To find out which diva will portray the imperious Queen Elizabeth I (and to see a preliminary photo of her in full regalia) you really must take a look after the jump!  

Yes, that’s right, it’s Marina Poplavskaya, and La Cieca is sure she’ll sing the part even better than she looks it!

So here’s how it works. After much consideration, La Cieca came to the conclusion that what we really need here are two divisions: “classic” divas who continued to sing past 1980 but are now no longer on the boards; and “current” divas who are still (more or less) active.  A few artists seemed to straddle the categories, but your doyenne applied her usual Solomon-like judgment to ensure proper bifurcation.

Following are two polls. You may vote for up to ten (10) divas in each poll. The ten divas in each division with the highest number of popular votes will be submitted to the “Greatest Diva” study.

Okay, so here we go.

The polls will remain open through midnight on Wednesday, September 15.

First, we’ll need a list of nominees from which La Cieca’s blue-ribbon panel will select the ten divas to be quantified. You, then, are invited to nominate your favorite opera diva of this generation. For the purposes of this discussion, “of this generation” shall be defined to mean “actively performing opera at some point during the period between 1980 and 2010.” For example, Leontyne Price would be eligible, even though she is now retired, because she last performed opera in 1985.

You may nominate as many divas as you like, and La Cieca notes that a paragraph enumerating each selection’s diva qualifications might well weigh in her favor when the time comes to winnow down the list to finalists. And, as always here at parterre, YouTube can speak even louder than words.

A final reminder: we are looking for Diva here; shrinking violets need not apply!

Tickets are $10 for “Friends of La Cieca” at the 8:00 show, and the ascetic members of the cher public will be happy to hear that there is NO food/drink minimum. Cafe Iguana is at 240 West 54th Street, and for reservations you may call (212) 765-5454.

The show features Dorothy’s latest discovery, Gregory Uliasz, as “Levi.” Greg was such a treat in the first run of the show that this time around he gets his own solo!

Our Own JJ put his hand in here and there with direction and lyrics.

Ashley Dupre (aka Spitzer’s Muse) is hoping “sex sells” as she launches her new relationship advice column in the Post.  She competes for readers’ attention against our own James Jorden, well-known as a “friend” of this site. Who will be the bigger reader draw? Stay tuned!

If only Aunt Cieca could get her own relationship column in the Post! Then she could finally respond to some of Angie and Roberto’s letters.